American architectural firm From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harding and Seaver was an architectural firm based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, active from 1902 to 1947. It was the partnership of architects George C. Harding (1867–1921) and Henry M. Seaver (1873–1947).
George Campbell Harding was born May 18, 1867, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He attended the public schools in Pittsfield and Phillips Academy in Andover before entering the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. He graduated in 1889 and worked in the offices of several Boston architects. He later returned to Pittsfield, where in 1894 he formed a partnership with Charles T. Rathbun, Pittsfield's oldest architect. This partnership, Rathbun & Harding, was dissolved upon Rathbun's retirement in 1899. Harding then practiced under his own name, establishing his partnership with Henry M. Seaver on January 1, 1902.[1] He maintained his partnership with Seaver until his death in 1921.[2]
Harding died April 23, 1921, in Pittsfield. He never married.[2]
Henry M. Seaver
Henry Morse Seaver was born March 8, 1873, in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, now part of Boston. He attended the public schools, graduating from Boston English High School in 1890. He entered the office of Boston architects Longfellow, Alden & Harlow, and also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a two-year architecture program, graduating in 1897. After traveling in Europe, Seaver returned to Boston in 1899 and briefly established an architecture practice. He was selected to design the new Theodore Parker Church in West Roxbury, the congregation of which his parents were members. In 1900, after the church was completed, he moved to Pittsfield, where he became head drafter in the office of George C. Harding.[3] After a year, they formed a partnership which was maintained until Harding's 1921 death. Seaver continued the firm alone under the same name until his own death in 1947.[4]
Seaver was a member of the Planning Board of Pittsfield from its 1924 establishment until his death.[4]
In 1904 Seaver married Alice V. W. Wentworth of Pittsfield.[5] He died December 9, 1947, in Pittsfield.[4]
In 1948, the firm was purchased by architects Prentice Bradley (1906-1997) and Douglas T. Gass, who reorganized it as Bradley & Gass. They dissolved their partnership in 1955, Bradley continuing the practice alone. In 1971 he further reorganized the firm as Bradley Architects.[6] The firm is still in business in Pittsfield.[lower-alpha 1]
Harding and Seaver "designed a great many public buildings in the Pittsfield-Berkshire County area, and did many other private commissions throughout New England and in New York State."[3]
